Elizabeth Thomas

Degrees, Licensures and Certificates: B.S.-Science Education, Chemistry, University of Kentucky; M.S.-Chemistry Organic Synthesis, University of Louisville; Ph.D.-Chemistry Nucleic Acids, University of Kentucky; Secondary Teaching Certification-Indiana Wesleyan University

Research Interests: Synthesis of Small Molecules to inhibit the Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway

BIO

Dr. Elizabeth Thomas designs and synthesizes small molecules that can be utilized for anti-cancer therapeutic agents. Currently she is developing the synthesis of alkoxyamine derivatives targeted at binding apyrimidinic/apurinic (AP) sites in DNA. AP sites in DNA are created as a result of genomic DNA damage. Some DNA damage is intentional such as patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many of the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, however, are less effective due to the base excision repair (BER) pathway. The BER contains enzymes that recognize and remove the damaged DNA base, then fills the gap by a DNA polymerase, and seals the nick by the DNA ligase. Dr. Thomas’s research interest is synthesizing small molecules that block the BER pathway, thus, ensuring the efficacy of current chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer patients.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• 2017. Thomas EM, Testa SM. The colorimetric determination of selectively cleaved adenosines and guanosines in DNA oligomers using bicinchoninic acid and copper. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2017 Jan;22(1):31-46. doi: 10.1007/s00775-016-1405-4. Epub 2016 Nov 2. PMID: 27807667.
• 2012. Thomas, EM, Norman, BH, Kroin, JS (Eli Lilly and Company, USA). Substituted tetralins as selective estrogen receptor-β agonists. Patent No. US 8,093,32 B2; Date of Patent: Jan. 10, 2012.
• 2007. Takeuchi, K, Holloway, WG., Mitch, CH., Quimby, SJ., McKinzie, JH., Suter, TM., Statnick, MA., Surface, PL, Emmerson, PJ., Thomas, EM, and Siegel, MG. Structure activity relationship studies of carboxamido-biaryl ethers as opioid receprtor antagonists (OpRAs). Part 2. J Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 17 (2007) 6841-6846.
• 2007. Takeuchi, K, Holloway, WG., McKinzie, JH., Suter, TM., Statnick, MA., Surface, PL, Emmerson, PJ., Thomas, EM, Siegel, MG, Matt, JE, Wolfe, CN., and Mitch, CH. Structure activity relationship studies of carboxamido-biaryl ethers as opioid receprtor antagonists (OpRAs). Part 1. J Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 17 (2007) 5349-5352.
• 2005. Diaz, N, Benvenga, M., Emmerson, PJ, Favors, RJ, Mangold, M., McKinzie, J., Patel, N., Peters, S., Quimby, S. Shannon, H., Siegel, MG, Statnick, MA., Thomas, EM, Woodland, J, Surface, P., and Mitch, CH. SAR and biological evaluation of novel trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-arylpiperidine derivatives as opioid antagonists. J Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 15 (2005) 3844-3848.
• 2010. Blanco-Pillado, MJ, Chappell, MD., De La Torre, MG, Diaz Buezo, N, Fritz, JE., Holloway, WG, Matt, JE., Mitch, CH, Concepcion, PT, Quimby, SJ, Siegel, MG, Smith, DR, Takeuchi, K, Thomas, EM, and Wolfe, CN. (Eli Lilly and Company, USA). Diaryl ethers as opioid receptor antagonist. Patent No. EP 2 208 727 B1; Date of Patent: July 21, 2010.
• 2000. Luzzio, FA, Thomas, EM, Figg WD. Thalidomide metabolites and analogs. Part 2: Cyclic derivatives of 2-N-phthalimido-2S,3S (3-hydroxy) ornithine. Tetrahedron Letters (2000), 41(37), 7151-7155.